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DR. GEORGE O.
WOOD TO
SPEAK FOR
ENCOUNTER
Sylvester and Heather met in the beginning of 2012. After a few
months of getting to know one anoth-er and feeling God drawing them
together, Sylvester and Heather were engaged on May 25, 2012, and
were united in marriage at First Assembly on September 29, 2012,
with Pastor Ray Cook performing the ceremony. Sylvester is a
graduate of Newburg High School (1995) and Rolla Technical
Institute (1996), having also attended MS&T (back when it was
UMR). Sylvester became employed at Archer-Elgin (formerly Elgin
Sur-veying and Engineering) in June, 1996, and has been employed
there ever since. Sylvester is currently a Professional Land
Surveyor, where he oversees the daily operation of the companys
professional surveying
services. Sylvester has attended church somewhere or another
since his birth, having accepted Christ as his savior at age 9,
becoming filled with the Holy Spirit at age 11 and being
re-baptized at age 25. Sylvester has been attending First Assembly
since 2006 and has been active in the church either in playing
drums with the various worship teams, filling in occasionally for
Pastor Ray in the Line upon Line class and by serving on the
churchs Trustee Board. In his spare time, Sylvester enjoys
exercising, being outdoors, music, reading, and art. Heather is a
graduate of Rolla High School (2003). The Furse family is blessed
that Heather can proudly call herself a Stay-at-Home Mom. Prior to
stay-ing home with their baby boy (more about him in a minute),
Heather was a clinical research assistant at Clinical Research of
the Ozarks. Heather has attended First Assembly since birth, being
one of the old timers who was here when Pastor Chuck started his
tenure. Heather was saved at age 7, baptized at age 10 and
(Furse continued on page 5)
Dr. George O. Wood, general
superintendent of the Assemblies
of God, Springfield, MO, will be
guest speaker at First Assembly of
God - Rolla, 1608 N. Oak St., on
Sunday, June 7, 2015, at 6:00
p.m., according to Pastor Chuck
Whitmire.
A popular speaker and writ-
er, Dr. Wood was elected chief ex-
ecutive officer of the church at the
52nd General Council in August
2007. As general superintendent
of the Assemblies of God, USA, part
of the largest Pentecostal denomi-
nation in the world, he is a member
of the denominations Executive Leadership Team and Executive
Presbytery. The church has over
(Wood continued on page 6)
CELEBRATE AMERICA SPEAKER DANNY WHITE Wired by God with a
teachers heart, Danny White has a passion to encourage other
leaders. He
desires to be a channel and not a dam with the wis-
dom hes picked up from over twenty years experi-ence leading
Marines, loving his wife Nora, and par-
enting their seven children who keep him young at
heart and ever-learning. Danny blesses God for His
grace and truly being Semper Fidelis (Always Faith-ful),
especially during lifes desert experiences or the tough times.
After retiring from the Marine Corps as a
Lieutenant Colonel, Danny founded Lead with Liberty,
for Calling #2. In 2014, he published A Widowers Walk: from
Desert to Destiny, an autobiographical
story of his leadership journey.
Danny is passionate about Jesus Christ and en-
couraging all leaders along their leadership journeys:
at home, at work, and in community. He founded
Lead with Liberty (leadwithliberty.com) to pass along
the lessons he has learned as a Marine, husband, and
(White continued on page 4)
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Are any of the following activities sinful of them-
selves? Art, crafts, music, dance, drama, literature,
humor, sports, games, culture, government, science,
technology, eating, drinking, or work? No! We partici-
pate and enjoy these things on Earth, not because we
are sinners, but because we are human. Yes, on this
Earth and under the Curse, many of them have been
perverted by sin. However, is it possible, as resurrect-
ed humans in Heaven, that we will still engage in
these pursuits in a perfected state? Yes! Lets look at this more
closely.
Work. Are you surprised that you will be work-
ing in Heaven? Did you think youd get all eternity to rest?
Consider this: When was work created? It was
before the Fall of Man and the Curse. God had great
purpose for Adam and Eve and His creation from the
beginning. Adam and Eve were instructed to, Be fruitful and
multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have
dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of
the air, and over every living thing that moves on the
earth (Genesis 1:28). Adam was put in the Garden of Eden to tend
and keep it (Genesis 2:15). God al-ways intended man to work and
exercise dominion; it
was only after the Fall and the Curse that it became
so difficult. But in Heaven, we will have responsibili-
ties and fulfilling work without the hardships and frus-
trations brought by the Curse. The final chapter of the
Bible declares, No longer will there be any curse. The throne of
God and of the Lamb will be in the city,
and his servants will serve him (Revelation 22:3). Government.
Remember Matthew 25:21? His lord said to him, Well done, good and
faithful serv-ant; you were faithful over a few things. I will
make
you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your
lord. And they [Gods servants] will reign for ever and ever
(Revelation 22:5c). Our goal will be to exer-cise dominion in a way
that glorifies God and serves
others well. (Arent you looking forward to loving the
government?)
Eating and drinking. Revelation 19:9 speaks of
the wedding supper of the Lamb. Revelation 21:6
says that God will satisfy our thirst from the spring of
the water of life. Revelation 22:2 describes the tree
of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, one crop each
month. Dont you imagine that food and drink will taste better
than ever in Heaven (and there will be no
food allergies or acid indigestion to minimize our
pleasure)?
What about art, drama, sports, technology and
the others? Can we glorify God with art and drama,
exercise dominion with science and technology and
delight in our human bodies performing sports now?
I Corinthians 10:31 exhorts us to whatever you do, do it all for
the glory of God. With our resurrected bodies and minds, why
wouldnt we have even great-er capabilities to accomplish these
things and give
glory to God in Heaven in ways we couldnt dream of on Earth?
Beverly Flori
Note: Any italics used are mine for emphasis; they were
not used in Scripture.
Reference: Randy Alcorn, Heaven, pp. 409-451 Fathers, invite all
of your family to church with you on June 21
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Nothing kicks off summer like a relaxing canoe trip on the
beautiful Meramec river in June! Men and boys, we
hope you can join us on our annual campout and canoe trip! We
will be leaving Friday, June 12th at 5 PM from
First Assembly and heading to Steelville. We will set up our
campground and tents, then enjoy fellowship
around the campfire that evening. Then Saturday we will hit the
river for a 6-mile canoe float along scenic
bluffs, beautiful valleys, and deep waters. Feel free to bring
your fishing equipment! You will need a tent and
food for lunch on the river on Saturday. We will take care of
dinner on Friday night and breakfast Saturday
morning. Cost is $25 per person. We need individuals to sign up
by June 8th by calling the church office (364-
1266) or signing up on the church website under events. If you
have any questions, get ahold of Sam at 578-
1770 or [email protected]. We hope youll join
us!
I am just writing to give you a heads up on all of our
kids activities happening here at Rolla First Assembly
this summer.
Vacation Bible School Our theme this year is "Everest:
Conquering
Challenges With God's Mighty Power". The
ages for attending this event are from 4
years old through 12 years old. If you
would like to be a part of VBS as a
volunteer this year, or just need
to sign your child/children
up, you can register at this
website: groupvbspro.com/
vbs/ez/rolla1stag. We will
begin each day by 8 am
and finish by noon. We
still need support staff
like crew leaders,
teachers, craft and
kitchen help, etc., so if
you have the time and are willing to help kids seek
out God in their lives, come join us July 6th through
the 10th!
Extreme Tween Week This event is for kids entering the 5th - 7th
grades
next fall. We will have a week full of fun and adven-
ture, starting Monday, June 22 at 8 am until 4:30 pm
each day. On Thursday, June 25, we will start at 8 am,
but continue the fun through Friday morning at 9 am
with a sleepover at the church. The cost is $80 again
this year, and spots are limited for this event, so con-
tact Pastor Brian or Sam Parker at the church office
(573-364-1266) to sign your young people up today.
Kids Camp Ages are 8 years old through 12 years old, and
the cost is $147 this year (up $7 due to rising
food/energy/maintenance costs). The
last day to register your child for camp
is Friday, June 19, by noon. All registra-
tions after this date are considered
late and an additional $25 late fee
will be added to the balance for
camp per child, so please sign
your child/children up as soon as
possible! Once camp is full, no
more registrations will be accepted. We
are Week 3 of camp this year, which is July 20
through the 24 and we will leave the church that Mon-
day morning promptly at 11 am. Contact Pastor Brian
or Miss Beverly for forms and details.
Looking forward to the best summer ever!
Blessings, Pastor Brian
MENS CAMPING AND FLOAT TRIP
SUMMER EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
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Days after being
commissioned as a U.S
Marine Second Lieuten-
ant, a mentor advised
him to pay attention to
every leader with whom
he served, learning from
both the bad ones and
the good ones. After see-
ing the impact of incredi-
bly positive leadership
from the Commandant
of the Marine Corps on
down the chain of com-
mand after the December 1997 accident, he began
to intently study leadership by observing over 300
leaders from the U.S. and 21 other countries dur-ing his service
in the Marine Corps.
Along my leadership journey, he wrestled with
the realization that he didnt know who I was and that I was
bound up in figurative prisons: being a worka-
holic, defining myself by what he did, and by seeking
affirmation from others. In turn, he now has rock-
solid answers to the questions: Who are you? and What are you
doing here? and Whose applause are you seeking? We look forward to
welcoming Danny White as
our special speaker during a combined patriotic ser-
vice on June 28 at 10 am.
On June 28, we will have a very special combined service at 10
am. The choir has been working on a
presentation entitled I Love This Land. I Love This Land reminds
singers and listeners alike to take the time to remember what a
privilege it is to live in this "sweet land of liberty." It
features familiar songs like
"Battle Hymn of the Republic," "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," the
"Armed Forces medley," and more.
Along with the choral presentation, Danny White of Lead with
Liberty will be speaking. Danny is a re-
tired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel with over 21 years of
service.
We would like to recognize each person who has or is serving in
any branch of the armed service. We
would love to see you in uniform for the service, and we will be
displaying photo-
graphs in the foyer. If you have photos to share, please drop
them by the church
office or email them to [email protected].
ANNUAL CELEBRATE AMERICA SERVICE
father. Lead with Libertys mission is Proclaim liber-ty
throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants
thereof ~ Lev XXV X (inscription on the Liberty Bell). Along his
leadership journey, he has experienced true
liberty as a leader and has a passion to encourage
others to seek and experience the same freedom in
their own lives.
The core of Lead with Liberty is my story and the events of
December 14, 1997. That
day I witnessed the deaths of my pregnant
wife Jenny and five-year old son Danny in a
single-vehicle accident during a military
move. In the aftermath, I saw firsthand the
difference that positive leadership made for
me as an instant single parent to a three-
year old daughter and nine-month old son.
(White continued from page 1)
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Can your children answer these questions? Can
you answer these questions? Through Junior Bible
Quiz (JBQ) your children can! The goal of Junior Bible
Quiz is not simply to memorize facts, but to plant the
Word of God deep in the heart of children, helping
them grow close to God. Elementary-age children, es-
pecially in grades three through six, are in the golden age of
memorization. Children who learn poems, Bi-ble verses, and stories
at this age can usually quote
them for a lifetime. Helping children hide Gods Word in their
hearts will not only help them know right from
wrong now, it will also guide their decisions in years
to come. Our hope through JBQ is to plant a deep love
for God and His Word.
Beginning this September we will hold JBQ prac-
tices Sunday mornings during first service. JBQ will be
open to any student who is attending Kindergarten-
6th grade as of September 1. We will participate at
four regional meets throughout the school year
(tentatively in Springfield & Lebanon) and end with a
district meet in Springfield in March.
Quizzing books are available for $11, and, if in-
filled with the Holy Spirit at age 12. Heather is currently
active in the church serving as a teacher in Sunday school and
Missionettes. In her spare time, Heather en-joys playing with her
son, spending time with her family, singing in the choir and
crafting. And then there is Mr. Ryker William, the star of the
show. Sylvester and Heather were ecstatic to find out they were
expecting in January, 2013, and gave birth to their beautiful baby
boy on August 23, 2013. Ryker en-joys music and dancing, being
outdoors and chasing birds and rabbits around the yard. Rykers
favorite ani-mal is dogthe bigger the better. Ryker is your typical
little boyfull of life and without any fear. Sylvester, Heather and
Ryker are blessed and honored to call First Assembly their home.
God bless!
Sylvester and Heather Furse
(Furse continued from page 1)
We are pleased to announce this years summer interns! Charles
Skyles, Zach Cunningham, Tiela Lau-
er, Courtney Lawson, Joel Merz, and Aleisha Flori will
work through the summer helping with various minis-
tries. Each summer we hire young adults with a call
to ministry in their lives to give them an opportunity
to experience practical ministry while building leader-
ship skills for the future.
In the Christians armor, what is buckled around the waist?
QUOTATION QUESTION. Why can we not trust our own
judgment in choosing the right way to live?
What three things does Paul say make up Gods kingdom?
terested, you are encouraged to get a copy and begin
some family study this summer before we kick off
practice in the fall. If you are interested, or have any
questions, please contact Erin Gibson
([email protected] or 573-647-0840). Answers:
Truth
Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but
in the end it leads to death.
SUMMER INTERNS
JBQ: PLANTING GODS WORD IN CHILDRENS HEARTS
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Pastor Chuck and Annettes 25th anniversary of ministry at First
Assembly
12,700 congregations in the United States with over 3
million
members and adherents.
The U.S. Assemblies of God is part of a larger World As-
semblies of God Fellowship with a membership of over 66 mil-
lion. Prior to his present position, Wood served the church
as
its general secretary for 14 years. He was assistant
superinten-
dent of the Southern California District from 1988-93. Wood
pastored Newport-Mesa Christian Center in Costa Mesa, CA,
for
17 years. He was elected to serve as chairman of the World
Assemblies of God Fellowship at its meeting in Lisbon,
Portu-
gal, in May of 2008.
The son of missionary parents to China and Tibet, Wood
holds a doctoral degree in pastoral theology from Fuller
Theo-
logical Seminary in Pasadena, CA, and a juris doctorate from
Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, CA. He
did
his undergraduate work at Evangel University (College) in
Springfield, MO, and served the college in several
capacities,
including being director of spiritual life and student life
from
1965-71. He was ordained by the Southern Missouri District
in
1967.
Dr. Wood is author of a number of books including:
Roadtrip Leadership, Living in the Spirit, A Psalm In Your
Heart, Living Fully, The Successful Life, and a college text on the
book
(Wood continued from page 1) of Acts. Sermons by Dr. Wood may be
heard at
www.georgeowood.com.
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PA
ST
OR
S &
ST
AF
F
Sam Parker After School Ministries &
Missions Director [email protected]
Karen Turner Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Mark Berry Facility Manager
Pansy Bingham Business Administrator
[email protected]
Abby Swearingen Media Assistant
[email protected]
Chuck Whitmire Lead Pastor
[email protected]
Ray Cook Associate Pastor
[email protected]
Brian Feller Childrens Pastor
[email protected]
Jason Gibson Youth Pastor
[email protected]
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1608 N Oak St Rolla MO 65401-2342
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #116 ROLLA, MO
SYLVESTER AND HEATHER FURSE Spotlight family
CELEBRATE AMERICA Patriotic musical and special events
WHAT WILL WE DO IN HEAVEN? Worldview FAQs
SUMMER EVENTS For kids & youth